Going Backward Before We Can Go Forward

By Susan Knight | A lesson from yoga on why our progress in life often happens in fits and starts.

Written by Susan Knight | Seeking Veritas Columnist | Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions

Photo by Alireza Sahebi on Unsplash

Back when I was in school, the library had a handful of yoga books which I would sign out repeatedly. Practicing yoga at home, I enjoyed how the physicality of all those twisty yoga poses was simultaneously gentle and challenging. I also liked the emphasis on appreciating whatever my capabilities were at the moment and then working steadily to push further, as opposed to focusing solely on the final ability to attain a specific pose perfectly.

Beyond its physicality, I was equally drawn to the spiritual aspects of yoga and the concepts it embodied that applied to life more broadly. Once such concept that left a lasting impression on me pertained to the operation of a bow and arrow as a metaphor for those periods in life when we find ourselves feeling stuck or unable to go forward as quickly and as easily as we would like to. The central point was that the arrow first needs to be pulled back, before it can go forward; and that pulling back of the arrow isn’t easy. It requires energy and effort, with the tension increasing as the arrow is pulled further and further back.

We’ve all experienced times in life where a situation fails to materialize as we had hoped and planned for. We make our plans and put in a solid effort, yet we’re still not where we would ideally like to be. Plans fall through, emergencies arise, and we get derailed by the unexpected. These periods bring about a sense of tension, both inwardly and throughout our lives. It’s easy to arrive at the conclusion that something must be wrong because we’re not achieving exactly what we want, within the timeline we want. Left unchecked, tension leads to turmoil and we start spiraling downwards, leading us to question not just our capabilities, but our identity and self-worth as well. A range of emotional states may set in to entangle us: anger, frustration, resentment, despondency, demoralization, insecurity, self-doubt, fear, anxiety — or some combination thereof.

What we don’t see in the moment is how we’re being prepared for what lies ahead. We don’t see how specific people need to come into our lives who will prove instrumental in guiding us along our journey. We don’t see how we need to address deeply embedded character traits that are tripping us up and causing us to get in our own way. We don’t see how there’s a sequence of events that needs to unfold, in order for us to be properly positioned and fully equipped to achieve our goals. For many of us, there’s a level of healing and recovery required before we’re able to push past a ceiling that’s largely self-imposed, and while this process can be supported to help it along, it can’t be rushed or brought about prematurely.

These are the times when it feels like we’re trying to push our way through a thick, dense fog. It’s as if we’re being restrained and held back, just like the arrow being pulled back against the bowstring. In reality, these are the times when vital growth is taking place and progress is indeed being made. These are the times when:

• knowledge is being gained

• lessons are being learned

• understanding is deepening

• priorities are being clarified

• relationships are being built

• strength is being acquired

• healing is taking place

When the timing is right and all the prerequisites are in place, we’re able to go forward powerfully and forcefully, seemingly propelled in a manner reflecting more than just our intellectually based plans and calculations.

I’m not sure why the bow and arrow concept imprinted so deeply on me when I first read it, but for some reason it stayed with me. Decades later, I still find the concept relevant and useful. It encourages us to be patient when the way ahead isn’t entirely clear. It reminds us that sometimes we simply need to relax and wait things out. And it reassures us that our inability to immediately see how all the pieces are falling into place doesn’t mean this isn’t happening nonetheless.

About the author: Susan Knight | SGP Featured Writer | Contact the author: @ http://skfreelance.com

Susan is certified health and wellness coach with a focus on personal growth and inner wellness. She was a regular contributor to Social Work Today Magazine and is a featured Health & Wellness Columnist for SGP.

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